MOORE’S RENAISSANCE GIFT PREPARES STUDENT-ATHLETES FOR LIFE By JERRY KUTZ, RETIRED SR. VICE PRESIDENT SEMINOLE BOOSTERS & CURRENT OWNER, PUBLISHER OF THEOSCEOLA.COM Have you ever found yourself in a “fight or flight moment” where you must jump in to help or flee to safety? Fourteen-year-old Isaac Hosford found himself in one such moment when two, 2,000-plus pound water buffaloes began to pummel his 80-year-old grandfather DeVoe Moore and his grandfather’s friend Fred White. Florida State University President John Thrasher faced adversity with the buyout of football coach Willie Taggart and the transition to the Mike Norvell era. Thrasher needed funding to turn the football program in the right direction and reached out to reliable friends, DeVoe and Shirley Moore, for a million dollar-plus gift. An ask of that size is a “fight or flight moment” for many prospective donors and no one would have blamed the Moores, after a lifetime of giving, if they chose to pass on this ask. In 2011, FSU named the DeVoe L Moore University Center in their honor for all they have done for the university. But the Moore Family’s nature is to jump
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in to help, rather than to flee, and the theme of this story. COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE FOR STUDENT-ATHLETES, FSU Instead of passing on President Thrasher’s million-dollar ask for the Renaissance Campaign for FSU Football, the Moores were among the first to say yes, which is their latest major gift. “Shirley and I thought it was important to get a better level of coaches to work with our younger players,” Moore said. “I wanted to help fund the coaching staff, and therefore the players, to give them better opportunities for whenever they leave the university. We need to try to instill in these young people work ethic and character, so they will go out and be a better person. I believe that lies in the coaches, coaches like Bobby Bowden, and that’s why we made the commitment to it.” President John Thrasher said he knew he could count on the Moores to help.
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“DeVoe and Shirley never say no — they are loyal friends who are always supportive of what Florida State is doing,” Thrasher said. “DeVoe is a generous and dedicated alumnus and an incredible gentleman.” “DeVoe and Shirley love Florida State and have always wanted to be involved in taking action to make the university better,” said Andy Miller, CEO, and President of Seminole Boosters. “Any time we’ve presented him with a real need and a good idea, he’s been willing to jump in to help Florida State remain on the leading edge of collegiate athletics.” In addition to money, Shirley devotes time through the Extra Point Club. “The first thing that impressed me about Extra Point was they stop every monthly meeting for a few minutes to do a devotional, which is very inspirational,” Shirley said. “And then giving to FSU; not just money but time and that was something I was willing to do.” You can find Shirley outside Doak
